TEXAS RANGERS NEWS

Mark Mathias - Bumped from 40-man roster Mathias was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Saturday.

Impact Lefty reliever Will Smith was brought in on a one-year deal and Mathias was the roster casualty. While he's 28 years old and lacks a defensive home, Mathias hit six home runs in just 91 plate appearances in the majors last year, so he could draw interest on waivers.

MARCH 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dane Dunning Improves in First Spring Start Dane Dunning’s first spring start went better than his first relief appearance.

MARCH 4, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Will Smith - Signs with Texas Smith signed a one-year contract with the Rangers on Saturday.

Impact Houston declined Smith's $13 million club option for 2023 after the lefty posted a 3.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and five saves over 65 appearances last season. Smith surpassed 30 saves in 2019 and 2021 with San Francisco and Atlanta, respectively, and could close in Texas with Jose Leclerc (neck) banged up. Smith is expected to join the team right away Saturday.

MARCH 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers Early Favorites for Ohtani: Report Inside the Rangers keeps up with MLB news as baseball gets closer to the 2023 regular season.

MARCH 4, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Rangers vs. White Sox Spring Preview The Texas Rangers will be looking for their third straight Spring Training win against the Chicago White Sox.

MARCH 4, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Rangers Spring Training | 03/04/2023 Listen as the San Francisco Giants (SS) take on the Texas Rangers in Surprise, AZ

MARCH 4, 2023 • MLB.COM

Rapid Gamer: Rangers 11, Giants 7 Twelve different Rangers had a hit, with Sandy Leon driving in two runs with the club’s only home run of the game.

MARCH 4, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

Rangers Scratch Jon Gray Start Taylor Hearn will start in Jon Gray’s place on Friday vs. San Francisco as the veteran starter is dealing with back stiffness.

MARCH 3, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Levi Weaver: Scheduled starter Jon Gray is a late scratch... - The Athletic Scheduled starter Jon Gray is a late scratch with “back tightness,” per team PR. Taylor Hearn is now starting.

MARCH 3, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Jon Gray - Scratched with back tightness Gray is dealing with back tightness and was scratched from his scheduled start Friday versus the Giants.

Impact Gray was set to make his second start of spring training, but he will now look to rest his back and be ready for his next opportunity. In his place, left-hander Taylor Hearn will take over on the mound and face San Francisco.

MARCH 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rangers Dark Horse MVP Candidate? One site named a Texas Rangers veteran as a potential candidate for MVP in 2023.

MARCH 3, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Yoshi Tsutsugo - Yet to report due to visa issues Tsutsugo has yet to report to Rangers camp because of visa issues, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Impact Tsutsugo was probably already a long shot to win a bench job as a non-roster invitee, and any chances he had might be out the window now with his late start. Once his visa problems are resolved, he should begin the season at Triple-A Round Rock.

MARCH 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jacob deGrom Set to Throw Again Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that the Rangers’ $185 million pitcher is fine and making progress.

MARCH 3, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Andrew Heaney on First Outing Andrew Heaney, one of the Rangers’ new starters, doesn’t worry about spring results.

MARCH 3, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Cole Ragans - Increases velocity Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Ragans was hitting 95-96 mph during his first Cactus League start last Sunday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Impact Ragans' fastball velocity was 92.1 mph in 2022, putting him squarely in the 19th percentile among pitchers. The velocity increase is startling. "I went back and looked at (last year's) games when I came over, and watched him," Bochy said. "It was impressive, wasn't it? He was bumping 96 (mph). I didn't see that in (last year's) games." The left-hander said he was on a program at a place called Tread Athletics, which he credits with the added 3-4 mph velocity. He's not a projected member of the five-man rotation, but he could move up among the depth options given the uptick in velocity.

MARCH 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dane Dunning - Fans five in first spring start Dunning allowed one run on three hits while striking out five over three innings in Thursday's spring game against the Brewers.

Impact This was Dunning's first Cactus League start and second appearance. The right-hander was part of Texas' rotation in 2022 but is on the outside of the top five starters as the 2023 regular season approaches. Barring injury to members of the projected rotation, the 28-year-old will likely occupy a multi-inning relief role during the regular season. Dunning was rocked in his one relief effort this spring, ceding five runs on three hits and two walks over 1.1 innings following starter Nathan Eovaldi.

MARCH 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Andrew Heaney - Gives up two HRs in debut Heaney allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two over 1.2 innings in Wednesday's spring game against the Dodgers.

Impact Heaney, making his spring and team debut after signing with the Rangers in the offseason, found himself in 2-0 hole against leadoff batter Mookie Betts, who drilled a middle-middle fastball over the fence in left field. "I don't want to start my first game of spring training going 3-0 on a guy or nibbling," Heaney told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. "So I was like, 'I'm just gonna kind of throw it at him down the middle.' And he hit it out." The other run against him was a solo home run by Jason Heyward. Both the left-hander and Rangers manager Bruce Bochy looked beyond the results and understood early spring outings are for getting work in and staying healthy. Bochy noted Heaney threw his off-speed pitches well.

MARCH 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

For the Rangers' Taylor Hearn, rodeo is the family business — and his future When Hearn's baseball career is over, he plans to pick up where he left off in the family business: professional tie-down roping.

MARCH 3, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Rangers vs. Giants March 3 Preview Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy will face his former team for the first time in spring training on Friday.

MARCH 3, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Duran Drives Rangers Win Over Brewers The Rangers built a three-run lead after four innings and hung on for the win.

MARCH 2, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Eflin makes good 1st impression with Rays after big deal

Zach Eflin made a good first impression with the Tampa Bay Rays

MARCH 2, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jose Leclerc Won't Play in WBC The Texas Rangers reliever won’t join Team Dominican Republic due to physical concerns.

MARCH 2, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

José Leclerc - Pulls out of World Baseball Classic Manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Leclerc (neck) will no longer play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Leclerc is dealing with some left neck tightness, so he and the Rangers have decided it's best he skip the WBC. It is not clear when Leclerc might be cleared to return to Cactus League play. He is the favorite to open the season as the Rangers' primary closer.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brad Miller on Bruce Bochy: 'It Speaks Volumes' The 10-year MLB veteran is playing for his third World Series-winning manager in his career.

MARCH 2, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Brad Miller's Versatility is Showing Brad Miller, a 10-year veteran, has already played first base in Spring Training and he’ll likely pick up more positions this month.

MARCH 2, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM